Matt Moore, the Idaho Transportation Department's new
research manager, recently met with researchers and staff of the National
Institute for Advanced Transportation to discuss future research collaboration.

"Matt brings new vision to our 17-year-old research
program, showing how our work can impact ITD’s long-term objectives,"
said Michael Kyte, NIATT director at the University of Idaho.

The UI, through NIATT, and ITD have worked together since
1998 to solve some of the state’s transportation problems. Greater
opportunities for collaboration will be identified as ITD implements
the visioning process initiated by ITD Director Dave Ekern. In addition,
funding sources for research could increase as a result of the renewal
of a surface transportation bill being considered by the U.S. Congress.

Moore was selected last December to be ITD’s new
research program manager. He faces the challenge of opening the “storehouse
of research and make information widely available to his ITD colleagues
for improving Idaho’s transportation system,” according
to ITD. The research manager position was created following a study
of ITD's research needs by Kyte.

“Research,” emphasized Moore, “is not
an end, but a means” to manage the myriad issues involved in transportation.
Approaches to highway and roadside maintenance, safety and traffic concerns,
compatibility with the environment, and sustainability must be both
practical and innovative, and be available for use throughout the state.